Sanctuary Cities

Show me your papers

“Put your hands up.” Put them up.

“Don’t move.” Don’t move.

Usually when a police officer says do something, most of us listen. Not our Governor.

Police chiefs in six major cities told Governor Abbott: “Don’t sign the Sanctuary Cities law.” These chiefs knew that saying, “show me your papers” to a Hispanic or Latino person ends the close, trusting relationships that took years to build. Gov. Abbott did it anyway.

That’s not supporting local law enforcement. That’s playing politics. The Sanctuary Cities law is a “Made for TV” issue, perfect for 200,000 fringe voters. It’s playing to the conspiracy crowd.

According to Houston’s police chief, sexual assault reports by Hispanics and Latinos dropped by over 40% because witnesses were afraid to be detained by immigration. The simple fact is Gov. Abbott’s law reduces crime reporting, which makes our cities more dangerous.

Let’s be clear. The Sanctuary Cities law means that when Hispanic or Latino-Americans get pulled over in a state that’s nearly 39% Hispanic or Latino, they’ll be asked to show their papers more often than ever. But, when people who look like me get pulled over, they probably won’t even be asked. That’s discrimination. Pure and simple. And that’s not right.